Cat diabetes comes in two types and your vet will prescribe insulin for both. In addition, home remedies for cats can help you manage your cat’s condition.
Herbal remedies are excellent for treating cat diabetes. You can make your own remedies or buy them ready-made. A combination of certain herbs may improve the symptoms of diabetes, stimulate insulin production and reduce the blood sugar levels in cats with type 1 diabetes. Consistency is vital and you will need to administer medication regularly and feed your cat a special diet. To achieve this, it is best that your cat lives indoors most of the time.
Homemade herbal remedies
If you want to make your own remedies, prepare a herbal infusion using three heaped teaspoons each of Benedict’s herb and cinquefoil and one heaped teaspoon each of bilberry leaves, blackberry leaves, periwinkle, and dried green bean pods. Dry, mix and grind the herbs. Infuse one teaspoon of the ground mixture in 150 ml of boiling water for three minutes and feed in small quantities throughout the day.
Alternatively, make a stinging nettle, horsetail, and catnip tisane and give two dropperfuls in the morning and in the evening. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon give two dropperfuls of an agrimony and plantain tisane. To make the tisane infuse one teaspoon of herbal material in 150 ml of water for one minute, then strain. For diabetes mellitus give half a dropperful of calamus root tisane six times a day instead.
In addition, give two dropperfuls of a bilberry leave infusion three times a day. To prepare the infusion boil two teaspoons of bilberry leaves in one liter of water and simmer down to half a liter. Once a week apply a compress of Swedish bitters to the lungs and pancreas for one hour.
Ready-made herbal remedies
PetAlive offers two effective ready-made natural remedies for cats with diabetes containing many of the above ingredients. GlucoEnsure is made from a specially selected combination of herbs known for their ability to maintain pancreatic health and support the pancreas in its function of the normal production of insulin. The ingredients will help to keep blood sugar levels within the normal range. GlucoEnsure can be used effectively on its own or as part of a veterinary treatment program.
Pancreas Booster contains a combination of herbs known for their ability to promote pancreatic health. This herbal remedy supports the production of important enzymes needed during the digestive process and promotes the breakdown of foods in the intestines to support pancreatic health. Pancreas Booster comes in capsules that are easy to administer. They may be given whole or crushed and mixed with your cat’s food.
Diet
Feed a diet high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and fat in moderation. There is specific feline diabetic food you can buy. The other option is to feed home-cooked foods that meet these requirements. It is recommended that you don’t feed any dry food. When researching suitable wet food avoid foods that contain flour, wheat gluten, rice, potato, or fruit.
Add one or two drops of neat apple cider vinegar to your cat’s food each day. Also mix catnip and three flowering stems of dandelion (remove flowers after washing) and one or more of the following ingredients in your cat’s diet: celery, watercress, wild garlic, cucumber, carrot, garlic pills, onion extract pills, leaves, and shoots of elder, chicory roots, salsify, asparagus or leek. Chop the dandelion stems finely, not losing the milky juice. Mince all other ingredients and add the mixture to the food.
You can also produce a diabetic tincture. Crush three large cloves of garlic and add to one liter of apple cider vinegar. Leave to stand for two weeks in a warm place. When ready, mix half a teaspoon of the tincture into your cat’s food each day.
Feeding routine is also important. If your cat is currently eating on a free-choice basis change it to twice daily.
Healthy lifestyle
Ensure your cat remains in good shape. Exercise is important.
These home remedies for cats with diabetes will help your cat if you follow the medication and feeding routines consistently.